Introduction and Quick History (New Forum Member!)

[NevynPA]

Hi all! I wanted to both introduce myself and let you all know where I came from. My name's Jeff; I grew up in a "LEGO family" so to speak. It was actually a rule that Christmas wasn't Christmas without LEGO sets. Being old enough for LEGO bricks in the early 90's as well as a Sci-Fi 'nerd kid' put me growing up with M-Tron and Blacktron with other stuff thrown in.

In 1991 we as a family went on vacation to Europe, and I got to go to LEGOLAND Billund - I was 6. It didn't take long before I was clamoring for more challenging stuff, and one catalog I noticed Technic. I was hooked before I even had any in my hands. I love the look, the machinery, the mechanical-ness of it all, and began clamoring for some.

I began asking for Technic, and wanted an 8830 really bad for it's six wheels. Time passed as my parents didn't feel me ready for something that complex at 6, but they did get me an 8815. Being one of those so-called "gifted" kids, I cranked it out no problem even at that age. I wanted more, and got it - sort of. My next Technic sets were 8810 and 8826, and then the S@H catalog came. There stood 8868 in all its glory. I was game over. I HAD to have it. I begged, pleaded gently, stared at it in the catalog, memorized all the statistics (price, piece count, etc). I finally got a "maybe," and was on cloud nine. I was expecting to get it for Christmas of 1994, and was blown away when I got it for birthday of 1993 (my Christmas was small that year for sure. $139 was a LOT then!).

SIX DAYS later (I did have to go to school), I was done. 8 years old, no help at all - my parents were waiting for me to struggle, break down, and ask for help. I never needed it. After that, I got more Technic and some regular as well, but they weren't afraid that I was 'too young' for the big stuff ever again. I got into other stuff (computers, books even more than I already was), and so the rate at which they bought me sets slowed down, but I never stopped playing.

I kept getting sets on occasion all the way through high school, but didn't really pay much attention - I was drifting away. Then was some college, and family of my own. I kept my LEGO sets, but didn't really play with them. I'd occasionally pull out my Technic stuff (always kept separate from the 'pedestrian' LEGO stuff!), and build from instructions, but never much.

Then I discovered Bricklink, Brickset, and Technicopedia. After a 10 year dark age, I was back in. Family prevented me from buying too much, but I was watching more than before, and keeping up with news to a degree. I snagged an 8880, and knew I had to start working on MOCs. Life got crazy and I didn't get started, but things are settled down now and I'm back in.

My wife and I have three girls, ages 8, 5, and 3. They've gotten LEGO sets of their own, and my wife and I have bought some for us to play with as adults that we then gave to the kids. I just recently turned over all of my 'regular' LEGO stuff to them, and they're loving the old sets and the crazy parts I had. Christmas this year will have ONE box under the tree. It's a giant box, that has all of the LEGO Friends sets they don't own yet in it. A 'bucket list' item of my wife's was to get the big, BIG set for a theme - she grew up with pirates and castle, always wanted the giant castle, but never got it.

So now our girls will have EVERYTHING in a series. :) Our plan for the holiday is just to take all that time and spend it as a family, together on the floor building LEGO sets.

I have ideas for MOCs with my Technic stuff (which I'm keeping separate and is <i>mine</i>), and hope to get some things I missed out on in the late 90's and 2000's. Hopefully, I'll be asking questions as I get started building and you'll hear from me regularly!

[Lost_In_Noise]

Welcome to the forums. It's nice to see a new face, although it's a dog's:) Way to go on the 8868, it's such a complex set, and really a pain to build. Still, very satisfatory in the end when everything works. You'd better get yourself an 8455 if you're into pneumatics. Can't go wrong there.

[NevynPA]

Dog? That's a cat on a Roomba! I do really love the pneumatics. I'd like an 8455, and the blue tow truck w/dual air tanks (can't think of the number right off).

[Alasdair Ryan]

I'd like an 8455, and the blue tow truck w/dual air tanks (can't think of the number right off).

Welcome to the forum,I have those sets you on about...well I did have until I parted them out....I would definitely try and get the backhoe.

There not cheep so may want to build it from bricklink.

Edited November 20, 2013 by Alasdair Ryan

[Lost_In_Noise]

The Tow Truck is overrated IMO... Not worth the same money as

[Rishab N]

Welcome to the forum!

[Blakbird]

Great story! Welcome to the forum. We look forward to advising you on how to spend all your money.

[peter_m]

Dog? That's a cat on a Roomba! I do really love the pneumatics. I'd like an 8455, and the blue tow truck w/dual air tanks (can't think of the number right off).

Go for EV3 and you will make your own Lego Roomba :)

Great story! Welcome to the forum. We look forward to advising you on how to spend all your money.

All... and few $ more ;)

Edited November 21, 2013 by peter_m

[Junpei]

Welcome to Eurobricks! I think you might want to buy pneumatics on BL, I'm not sure if Lego customer service will still replace broken cylinders from 8455. And YES, get 8420. It's one of the sets I missed out on, but it is awesome. Not to mention that the shock absorber and wheels alone are worth about one and a half times the MSRP.

[DrJB]

Welcome aboard ... might want to read thread below ... perspectives from various AFOLs

http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=86194

[nychase]

We look forward to advising you on how to spend all your money.

Believe me, thats a rabbit hole you don't want to go down. Before you know it you will be finding any reason (not just logical ones) to justify the next purchase.

Of course my point would be more easily made if I mentioned that there are 7k bricks in front (under my arms) of me now for what I am currently building. Makes typing on the computer quite uncomfortable actually!

Technicopedia was the catalyst that got me to come back to Lego. I heard the creator of that site is a pretty cool guy too (when hes not making you drool over his collection).

[Jim]

Hi,

Welcome to EB! Nice story.

Can't wait to see the "gifted kid's uhhh gifted guy's" MOCs

And it seem you are gonna have a very merry Lego Christmas!

Maybe your entire family can join the Winter Village contest

http://www.eurobrick...showtopic=88469

[NevynPA]

Go for EV3 and you will make your own Lego Roomba :)

Ehhhhh...I could, but somehow the Mindstorms stuff never really appealed to me. Robotics is cool, but I'd much rather build mechanical than program electronic.

Great story! Welcome to the forum. We look forward to advising you on how to spend all your money.

Thanks! It was your site that helped kick me up and out of my dark age in a big way. I wish I had more money to spend on it, but being a responsible parent comes first. :(

Welcome to Eurobricks! I think you might want to buy pneumatics on BL, I'm not sure if Lego customer service will still replace broken cylinders from 8455. And YES, get 8420. It's one of the sets I missed out on, but it is awesome. Not to mention that the shock absorber and wheels alone are worth about one and a half times the MSRP.

See, it doesn't particularly appeal to me. I'm not really in this for the set or part value. I've got an 8430, which is why I'd like the 8462 - to get more wheels of the same type so that I can have at least 4 of them. Also, to get some more penumatics (esp. air tanks), and to get blue parts. Even for ~100, it's the least expensive way to accomplish all four of those goals.

Hi,

Welcome to EB! Nice story.

Can't wait to see the "gifted kid's uhhh gifted guy's" MOCs

And it seem you are gonna have a very merry Lego Christmas!

Maybe your entire family can join the Winter Village contest

http://www.eurobrick...showtopic=88469

Thanks! I'll look into that.

I'll start a separate thread for my MOC ideas (one's a clown shoe), and I've got a small discourse about my first fully studless experience to post as well (8067).

[Lakop]

Welcome to the forums.

H